Just an hour drive out of Sydney, Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected 80-acre bushland space where native animals like kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, and of course, koalas roam freely and safely. Many of the animals here are rescued, endangered, or unreleasable, so this sanctuary and the dedicated staff give them a forever home. Others are part of breeding programs, helping rebuild declining populations in the wild. But what really sets this place apart is how it combines wildlife conservation with the preservation of real Aboriginal culture. The walk through offers insight into the past inhabitants of the land and hope they lived, complete with a boomerang throwing tutorial (not my strength btw), to trying some bush tucker to get a real taste of the culture. It was powerful to see how environmental protection and cultural history go hand in hand here.
The moment I stepped inside, I was greeted by kangaroos hopping around freely. Like, actually just standing around casually in the open. They were constantly eating the grass, and we were allowed to go up and pet them. Arnold the Koala was definitely the highlight of the visit, he always looked like he had the cutest smile plastered across his face. He chomped away at his eucalyptus leaves as we paparrazied him with millions of pictures and videos.
I also met Gundy the wombat, the cutest little thing who unfortunately is blind. Though he has lost his sight, he is still spirited and has a love for basketball as he pushes it around his little enclosure with his nose. He was rescued from his mothers pouch after she was ran over, and after doctors realized he was blind, they knew he would never be able to survive in the wild on his own, so he lives a beautiful fun-filled life at the sanctuary.
But in between all of the “aww” moments, we had real conversations with the incredibly educated staff about how deforestation, climate change, and pollution are threatening these animals’ survival. It reminded me that the cutest animals are often the most vulnerable, and that protecting them means protecting the land they rely on. Conservation doesn’t start with grand gestures, it starts with awareness. Learning the names of animals, meeting them face-to-face, and seeing where they live made it all feel real.
Supporting sanctuaries like Walkabout (who gets zero government funding), being mindful of what you consume, reducing plastic, and educating others matters. Especially when you’ve looked into the eyes of a real-life Arnold or a blind Gundy and realized that they’re depending on us.
